More Dealership Internal Non-Sense

asphaltgambler · 12-13-2016, 07:00 AM

The latest internal thievery at 1 of the largest family owned dealership chain in the Washington metro area goes as follows:

All body shop guys now have 1/2 hour deducted from their time to pay to have the customers car washed. Washing the car is at the end of the repair process, the cost rolled into the estimate. Now the body shop technician pays for it. IE: Body shop guy gets paid 5.0 labor hours to repair the vehicle, now only receives 4.5 labor hours for the same job.

Parts cost are assessed an additional $.05 over actual cost. This reduces parts dept profit margin which is how everyone is paid their commission. That extra $.05 now goes to the general manager's bottom line, fattening his share.

Won't be long before everyone else jumps,on the bandwagon...........

Craig T · 12-13-2016, 07:07 AM

Just another example of greed at the top. It's a trend in American industry. C-suite executives making a couple million per year and everybody under C-suite working longer hours for the same or less pay, scared everyday for their jobs. OH $H!T! I'm a republican. That sounded like Bernie talking. Go capitalism!

dad911 · 12-13-2016, 07:15 AM

Just curious, are they salary or subcontractors? and is time by the book or actual time worked?

I never thought to charge my employees cleanup at the end of the day. Maybe that's why they were mostly dedicated and reliable.

legion · 12-13-2016, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig T

Go capitalism!

Corporations have nothing to do with capitalism. A bunch of sole proprietorships actually implement capitalism better.

asphaltgambler · 12-13-2016, 07:22 AM

In the automotive retail services world, be it dealer or independent, everyone is paid on commission. The only exception is the guy that pushes the broom.

They are all employees, but are paid like sub-contractors. In fact, if there was any legal way to do it, all employees would be sub-contractors.

asphaltgambler · 12-13-2016, 07:35 AM

Mechanical labor is dictated by who-ever's guide they prefer. Most dealer's use the warranty time + 50% for COD work. Warranty time is dictated by each manufacturer. Others use 1 of the 3 major industry labor 'book' times for each job.

Body shop labor hours and gross dollars per are dictated by the insurance companies. IE: Most body shop labor is around $45/ labor hour. Its low because that's what the insurance companies want. For comparison average COD mechanical labor is @$115 / labor hour here. Higher still at European shops.

No one is paid by how long it takes......

Craig T · 12-13-2016, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Corporations have nothing to do with capitalism. A bunch of sole proprietorships actually implement capitalism better.

Agreed.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Total BS and another reason I'm so glad I got out of that industry..

billybek · billybek's Garage

I would go wash the car and get paid my full rate.

asphaltgambler · 12-13-2016, 10:08 AM

Unfortunately, their shop, their rules, their game. They have a wash dept so no cross-over work done.

Brando · Brando's Garage

AsphaltGambler, is that a large prominent dealer group in Salisbury, Marlow Heights, Capitol Heights, etc?

onewhippedpuppy · 12-13-2016, 12:52 PM

Sounds like time for a new employer.

LakeCleElum · 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Won't be long before everyone else jumps,on the bandwagon...........

Fixed it for ya; seen it happen at both a Toyota and a John Deere dealership:

Won't be long before everyone else jumps SHIP

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

So how long until this gets extended to other customer perks?

* We're going to deduct .25 hours to covet TP in the restrooms
* .5 hours to cover the complimentary coffee in the waiting room

etc

asphaltgambler · 12-13-2016, 03:43 PM

There are a few family owned dealers that have franchises in DC/ MD / Vs

Are far as TP or other small 'costs' that is covered under "shop supplies" which is pure profit on top. If there is is any actual supplies used, those are charged to you via parts dept

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

How a dealer treats its employees, ultimately effects the perception of an attentive customer. Even if your mechanics shop is out of their sight, some one brings the car around.

Quality control can lose it too, not getting an alignment as close as it should, etc. If a dealer doesn't treat its employees right, the customer will feel it.